Prologue:
I look around me at the swaying trees and they reminded me of old friends saying goodbye. Reminded me of when I knelt at my brothers side as he lay dying in my arms. He was cold and I couldn't tell if that was from death taking him or the fact that it started snowing.. Snow in Louisiana? There was roaring in my ears and I stumbled grabbing on to an almost barkless smooth tree for support. All I could think was he killed him Wren killed Alex but why? His throat had been cut his blood was now cold and sticky on my hands and clothes chilling me to the bone. All I could think was..why Wren? Was it because we didn't work out? I fell to my knees shivering and crying.. Snap.. I jerked up and listened. He could still be out there still be angry and after me. I found my strength and got to my feet and ran just ran. The trees blurred past the wind roaring in the branches. My lungs were going to explode and I knew I was being followed.
I tripped.
I was numb and lifted myself up and in front of me was another dead body..it was Wren! So if he wasn't the one killing everybody.. who was? I let out a sob as the footsteps got closer go Marly get up and run I tell myself. But it was too late the person was here in the shadow of the trees it was too dark to see if it was a man or woman.
"Your turn." he breathed and the last thing I saw before I blacked out was the wicked gleam of moonlight off of a shiny knife…
Chapter One
I started to stir my eyelids fluttering I shivered from the cold. They were arguing I opened my eyes slightly and everything started to come back dead Alex dead Gina and dead Wren. Why? I saw two black silhouettes in the darkness not far from where I was laying. The man, he was going to kill me why didn't he? I saw the shiny knife still clutched in his fist. He was pissed. There was another figure there both of them were standing tense. My head throbbed and I became aware of something sliding down my leg.
"Leave her be.. What could she possibly do?" One argued with the first man with the knife. His voice was hoarse like he never really used it too often.
"Vince. It doesn't matter what she can or can't fucking do! If she finds out about the town we are over through done! Everything we worked for would be for nothing!" he shouted back. They both stopped their bickering and all was quiet. Did they know I was conscious? I layed still my heart thundering erratically in my chest but no there was another set of footsteps and a weird dragging sound..
"Lester..where the hell have you been?" the knife guy shouted.
The new man, Lester scowled. " Cleaning your mess Bo just because you get pissed doesn't mean you need to get sloppy."
"Why havent you killed him yet?" Bo growled. I snuck a peek at all of them why were they running around the woods killing people anyway? Who was this him and was I next?
"Marly..," I heard my name quietly muttered and my eyes flew open.
"James?" I whispered.
"They know too much!" Bo yelled but I looked at James he was bleeding badly and I couldn't tell where from. The three men were lost in arguing again as Lester dropped James beside me he couldn't even move.
"Marly, get out of here go, run. Baby I'll distract them." he was going to give me a diversion so I could get away.
"No! I won't leave you." I whispered. They hadn't even noticed we were talking.
"Marly..go!" he said. I quickly kissed him on the mouth and glanced up to see the tall one with long hair..Vince was staring at us as Bo and Lester shouted their lungs out at each other. I slowly sat up keeping eye contact with him I couldn't look away because he was wearing a mask why weren't the others wearing a mask? I got slowly to my feet and saw Vince silently shake his head. I knew he was telling me not to run. I didn't even blink.
The next thing I knew I was running in the opposite direction trees blurring past freezing wind whipping my hair. God.. James forgive me for leaving you.
"Vincent find her! We need to get the bodies!" Bo shouted. Great so he was coming after me. Why us? We all just wanted to go camping for a few days some bet Alex said that Wren wouldn't last the weekend in the wilderness and this is what it brought? My leg was throbbing and I stopped a minute to look..my leg was bleeding when did that happen? It was so cold that I didn't feel it. I listened as hard as I could without the wind whistling in my ears. I didn't hear any footsteps maybe I lost Vincent. I took out my cell phone and looked at the bars..none of course stupid. I'm out in the middle of nowhere of course I wouldn't get a signal I turned on the flashlight from my touch screen and saw a sort of hole like cave a little bigger than me. It was black inside I could hide in there until daylight. Hopefully they would give up looking and I could find my way to the highway then.
I shivered I hope there isn't a snake in there. I shined the light inside all around and saw nothing I even rattled a branch on the top..no movement. I sighed and climbed in choking back my tears about James was he even alive still? Would I make it past tonight? This was something an eighteen year old shouldn't have to even think about..yet here I was.
I was too nervous to sleep at first I listened to the wind and pulled my black jacket tighter around me. I'm going to make it. I'm going to make it. I'm going to survive this. I heard some snow crunching nearby and my eyes few open I looked out in a crack in the branches and snow that shielded me from view. It was Vincent! I bit my lip to keep from hyperventilating and stayed still and quiet. If I got out of this the first thing I was doing was going to the police to get those freaks thrown in jail. He silently walked past my hiding spot until his footsteps disappeared and I relaxed physically and now. I started to play out everything that happened in my head from the beginning until now.
Wren was the stuck up preppy boy who I used to date he was a dick to me now because I was with James. He got jealous and brought Gina a small junior I didn't know to piss me off though he wouldn't admit it the whole truck ride here. I didn't remember what brought to camp out here exactly no..the flat tire! We blew a tire out on the road cuz some idiot left a pocketknife on the dirt road. Somehow I had a feeling that whoever dropped it they had dropped it on purpose and I shuddered as Bo's angry voice came to my mind. We had just decided to camp out and pitched our tents in this clearing that had some dead animal smell wafting around it. I shivered maybe it was dead bodies and not animals that make that smell. I had a weird feeling the whole time but I ignored it and I cursed myself for doing so. We were drinking around the fire trying to keep warm I was in James' arms as Wren and Gina made out across the fire. It really hadn't bothered me at all and then Alex disappeared into the woods to pee.
He was gone for awhile and everyone joked that he had just gotten a little lost. Wren and Gina went into their tent and I went looking for Alex while James layed down also. The next thing I remember was finding him dead and running trying to find the camp when I tripped over Alex. I assumed Gina was dead also and now James… please let him still be alive. I was exhausted and drifted off to sleep slightly shivering and praying I would make it through the night.
The sound of a bird chirping woke me the next morning. Daylight flooded through the little holes in my branch house. I blinked several times I groaned it was hard to move my fingers and toes I was so cold. I listened and crawled out when all I heard was silence. I did it I make it through the night. My phone said it was nine thirty in the morning I was alert and … my stomach growled hungry. I sighed standing slowly and gripping a nearby tree for support. I looked at my surrounding all I could see in every direction was snow and leaveless scary looking trees. Why did I feel like I was in a horror movie? Oh that's right my fucking friends were dead!
I had to backtrack find Wren then Alex than the camp and finally the highway.. But then a memory from last night flooded me. That psycho Bo..he said they were collecting the bodies what if they did already what if they were doing it now and still lurking nearby? I looked around wide- eyed a deer in headlights. I just had to focus and get out of here come on Marly you can do it! I smiled at my positive thinking. I took a few steps and stopped looking around and listening there was a few drops of blood in the snow leading in the opposite direction they must have been from me last night which means I needed to backtrack that way to find the clearing then the highway.
I figured this would be the most dangerous part of my trip heading back in the direction the killers were in to the stench of deaths stinking arms. I started walking well limping from the cold in that direction and realized I had gotten lucky last night that Bo would have carved me up into pieces last night if Vincent hadn't told him I wasn't worth it. Why would he do that as creepy as he looks Vincent seemed to fit the profile of deranged killer more than Bo or the other guy yet here we all are. Three madmen lurking around who might or might not be trying to find me and I had to find my friends to see if any of them were alive. But I had to go and save myself first and I was on my way to do that. I was in mid step when something rammed into me from the side. I squeaked as I hit the snow and blinked disoriented not even moving. I felt the pain in my leg and I hissed through my teeth and moaned. I screamed and forgot about the pain because I was staring up at the man with long black hair wearing a wax mask who was pinning me down in the snow.
It was Vincent! I hadn't even made it half a mile! My heart was thundering he looked down at my wrist and I realized my pulse was hammering against his fingers. He didn't say anything and I could only see one of his eyes I didn't dare move just yet. I knew I was trapped underneath his weight he had to be around 160. He didn't do anything just stared at me with that one green eye and I stared back looking into the eyes of death. He cocked his head to one side slowly and whispered in a hoarse voice., "I found you."
I kicked him between his legs and he groaned rolling off me into the snow. Adrenaline spiked through me and I no longer felt my leg but I saw blood in the snow and knew it was mine. I took off as fast as my limping leg would let me I grabbed and pushed off of trees for support. I looked back and he was gone. Vincent wasn't even following me anymore. Where did he go? I slowed a bit and looked back behind me at nothing but empty woods. Snow was falling heavily again and I was covered in it. I turned forward and bumped right into Vincent who was standing in front of me. I gasped as he pushed me on my back in the snow. I struggled but I was too weak as he held me down and rolled up the sleeve of my jacket.
"What are you doing? Stop no please!" He took out a syringe from his jacket and ripped the cap off. I couldn't help myself I called out for my dead older brother "Alex! Alex!" He was always there to protect me until now I was on my own and I got caught already My vision was fading and Vincent got off of me the last thing I saw when my vision faded was him standing over me quietly watching me lose consciousness.
I started coming to as Vincent was walking with me over his shoulder. I remembered his name and who he was but I felt no panic from the drugs. I felt good actually which was kinda fucked up in my situation.
"Vincent?" I mumbled. He stiffened probably not expecting me to wake up so soon. My eyes rolled and I squeezed them shut for a moment before opening them again I could see a road behind us with two rows of neatly placed stores on either side of us they were all dark and looked closed. If we were in a town where was everybody how could he have walked down the street in broad daylight with a sedated girl over his shoulder? I couldn't process anything other than that so I tried with Vincent again maybe I could earn his sympathy and he would let me go. It was wishful thinking but I had to try.
"Vincent," I tried again. "Please.. I"ll do whatever you want just don't hurt me please." I mumbled and he stopped for a minute. I felt him take a deep breath and turned and went down another road instead of the one we were already heading down. As he walked down the other road I got a look of where we were first going it was a huge yellowed building the words 'HOUSE OF WAX' on the front. Was that where he was taking me at first? Where were we going now? A truck rumbled past and I looked up hopeful that someone would help me. The man stopped next to us and Vincent turned slightly to look at him. I still couldn't process much but as soon as the man started talking I knew who he was and dread filled me I wasn't getting saved this time…
"Vincent.. You fucking freak! What the fuck are you doing? You take all the victims to the house of wax alive or dead!" Bo shouted from the truck. Vincent didn't say anything at first just looked at him. I blinked my eyes hard again as I was coming to more. My leg throbbed and my head swam I took a deep rasping breath. His voice was quiet and crackly like he never used it much. I finally got a good look at Bo he had short deep chestnut colored hair and was a little scruffy. Someone I wouldn't talk to for fear of him being a psycho go figure.
" I want to keep her." he said quietly. Keep me.. Like a pet? My leg suddenly started to throb again and I gasped at the pain.
"What!" Bo shouted. "Why now? You had no problem killing all the others!" So this wasn't their first time or was he referring to my brother and friends?
"I want her." he said darkly. I could tell Bo was usually the one in charge he had a major authority attitude and a smug look on his face now. I met eyes with Bo and saw hatred towards me or Vincent I wasn't sure but I had to stay away from him. Bo put the truck back into gear.
"Alright. Keep her. But when she hurts you or manages to get away so help me Vincent I'll kill you both." he growled and continued his slow drive down the street. Vincent stood frozen to the spot until the truck pulled into a gas station at the end of the road and he relaxed. My head was clearing fast and I kind of sat leaned upwards against his back. Should I fight him? No. I wouldn't get anywhere with my leg being this way maybe I'll let it get better a bit and leave in a few days…
"Where are we going?" I whispered softly. For the first time I was sure Vincent was smiling behind his weird mask. I wonder why he wore it…
"To the house.. You got real lucky..um." he trailed off.
"Marly." I heard myself say automatically.
"Marly." he repeated softly and I felt a shiver go up my spine. What have I gotten myself into?
He carried me up some driveway and set me down on my feet on a porch it was painted blue and old I could tell from the chipped paint and knife marks all over the columns. Did they kill anyone on this porch? There was a little wooden swing on the side. My legs couldn't support me and I fell hard on the wood. Vincent opened the screen door it squeaked loudly and I felt dread in my stomach what would their house look like? Full of dead bodies and terrible stenches? He opened another door and then reached for me he swept me up bridal style and carried me through the doorway.
The ceiling was yellowing and there was a regular living room fan hanging over it was dark and cool inside the fan making a whirring noise as it spun around. The only light was coming from a little hallway. The screen door slammed behind us and the other man leaned out of the room with a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth. It was Lester the other man from the night before.
"What are you doing, Vince?" he mumbled and I could tell him and Vincent were a lot nicer to each other than Bo was. I met eyes with Lester and was relieved that there was no hatred there.
"Bo said I could keep her." he mumbled and led me to the couch in the living room. Lester followed the sound of their heavy boots thudding around us. He layed me on the couch. I tried to move but my legs still wouldn't work for me. I used my arms to prop myself up and scooted up to the edge.
"Vince that's not a good idea." I felt kind of irritated that they were talking about me like I wasn't here but I was so shouldn't I just be thankful that I was still alive and staying alive apparently for the moment at least?
"She could run away expose us and what will do then? The town we worked so hard for would be fore nothing and for what? A pretty face?" Lester said softly to Vince.
"She won't run away..shes staying with us." Vincent set his jaw and looked at me hard.
"Won't you Marly?" I felt my face warm as I was finally put on the spot and they stared at me what else could I do? I nodded my head my eyes wide.
"Be careful," Lester said to both of us. "If you let her do anything stupid or get away you know then she'll be Bo's and you don't know what he will do to her." Lester stood and went back to the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth. I gasped as my leg throbbed again.
"What wrong?" Vincent was suddenly up and standing over me he was so tall around 6' 2" at most to my mere 5'6".
"My.. My leg it got cut it's been bleeding all night." I took a deep breath and moved my hand down to the cut area. He gently moved a piece of my jeans out of the way to examine the cut it had gotten dark since last night the last thing I wanted was an infection. His fingers were long and moved gracefully I noticed there were a few calluses on his hands at odd points.
"Stay here I'll get a few things." He went down the hall and to the bathroom Lester was in. I could hear them mumbling to each other but I couldn't quite make out what they were saying exactly. I closed my eyes as Lester turned on the faucet and the sound of the water was lulling me back to sleep. I closed my eyes slowly shutting out the small run down house the yellowed walls the old tv with the antennae, the windows with the blue lacy curtains that looked so old they should have used as rags now. Just about everything had a light layer of dust on it and strangely I thought that's what you get when three men lived in one house. Or at least that's what I assumed. There was a sharp prick at my arm again and I gasped my eyes flying open.
Vincent was pulling another syringe from my arm and looked at me I accused him as much as I could manage with my eyes.
"Shh. It's okay I'd rather you were out during this I need to give you stitches." he said quietly and I stared at him wondering how in the world he knew how to give someone stitches was he a doctor of some sort? I started to fade again thanks to the drugs and I passed out when Vincent unbuttoned and started to take off my jeans…
I knew I was dreaming because I had already been though all of this the running the pain my dead brothers face looked up at me blankly from the cold ground. Then there was Wren calling my name and he grabbed my hand like old times as we ran through the woods. But this had never happened I found Wren dead.. And then there was James and Gina running behind us toward the highway I tripped in the snow before the road and they all stopped in the middle of the street to come back to get me. But then a truck ran them all over and skidded to a stop I looked up horrified at my dead friends and into the evil smiling face of Bo.
I shrieked and sat up in the bed. I gasped and dry heaved over the side of the bed a few times. There wasn't anything in my stomach to throw up though. I turned on the lamp on the table next to me and realized I was in a bed. My leg throbbed but no longer was hurting. I looked around the room it was a normal sized bedroom. I was in a queen bed with burgundy sheets there was a dresser on the other side next to the closed closet and a full length mirror on the other side and that was it apart from the bedside table with lamp and the chair in the corner. There was nothing on the walls it was very plain. I looked over and saw a glass of water and a few pills next to it. My head hurt slightly and I wanted them I sipped the water first knowing I shouldn't take strange pills from a strange man…who saved your life I argued. Who wanted to 'keep me' as he had put it. I turned the small round pills over and read what was on them Advil. Oh ok. I took all three of them with the water and attempted to stand. I was still in my stretched out shirt from yesterday and my underwear my jeans were nowhere to be found and my jacket was on the dresser. My socks and shoes were next to the bed on the floor.
It kind of unnerved me that Vincent saw me in my underwear and I looked at his professionally done stitches there were three neat little crosses closing my cut all the blood had been wiped away he actually fixed me up. I threw the blanket off of me and attempted to stand it was a lot easier than I thought it would be unless I was just used to it by now. I had all the running in the woods to thank for that. I limped towards the full length mirror finally getting a look at myself. My poor reflection started back at me the pale skinned red haired unkempt version of me stared back. My blue eyes looked like they were still in shock I felt like it also. My dark red hair was still hanging down in waves to middle of my back but were no longer glossy but frizzed and untamed. I smoothed my hair with my hands and started looking through the drawers of the dressers most of them had mens jeans and boots in the corners of the room. I opened one drawer and was shocked to see clean and neatly folded womens clothes. There was a few pairs of cute panties and some sweatpants from aeropostale with a string to tie in the front. Was there a woman living here and if so would she mind if I borrowed her clothes?
I hastily pulled on a new pair of panties and the gray sweatpants they were a perfect fit I realized as I tied the string in the front. I took the black hair tie off my wrist and re-tied the back of my green t-shirt that was a little too big for me I noticed I still had my navy blue lacy camisole on underneath it. I didn't look too bad. I wondered where everyone was it was dead quiet in here no pun intended. I yanked my fingers though my hair in an attempt to get the tangles out. I wasn't sure why I cared still. I drank the rest of the water and realized I had to visit the bathroom there was that little one that Lester had been using. How long ago was that anyway? The window over the bed had a thick blanket pinned up over it to keep it dark in here I guessed I pulled it aside and was blinding by brilliant sunshine. I was looking down at a backyard so I was on the second story? There was old rusted children's swing set in the back yard surround by a chain link fence and then woods. It was clear blue skies and I hoped they didn't kidnap and kill children as well.
I was fighting so many emotions fear for one but that was a given confusion that Vincent wanted to be so nice to me when Bo didn't and Lester thought I would be trouble in the future. Well no guarantee that I wont be but I shook my head. They killed my boyfriend my ex boyfriend my brother and Gina. Well I assumed they killed Gina I didn't see her dead body and James didn't mention anything about her. I felt the tears come to my face as I slid down the wall and sat on the floor in the corner next to the window the farthest from the door I could get. I had so much anxiety right now my nerves were shot I was shaking and trying so hard not to have a full out cry session. I buried my face in my hands and sniffled. I wasn't sure how long I sat like that my headache was going away. I looked up and jumped out of my skin. Vincent was sitting on the bed facing me next to the blanket covered window. Neither one of us moved, looked away, or said anything for a minute and it unnerved me. Finally he stood slowly silently. How did he move so quietly?
"Are you hungry?" he asked hoarsely.
My stomach growled in return and nodded.
"I'd like a shower.." I trailed off. He glanced down at the pants I was wearing and offered his hand. To my surprise I took it and let him help me up. He dropped my hand instantly and walked out the door I followed silently as we walked into another hallway to the right was nothing but a few closed doors right across the hall was a bathroom. The door was open and the light was on the shower was going but suddenly it was turned off and Bo stepped out all exposed he grabbed a towel off the sink and dried his face before looking up and seeing me. I flushed so red and he smirked. I put my head down and turned left following Vincent who was already halfway down the stairs. I caught up quickly Oh my god marly get a grip! I can't believe I just saw the man who might or might not hate me naked. Ugh I could die of shame. Vincent didn't notice anything because he led me to a chair in the kitchen.
"What time is it?" I asked as I gently sat.
"Eleven you slept through the night." he mumbled. "Do you like eggs?"
"What?"I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that there was a masked man offering to make me breakfast..
Boots thumped on the linoleum floor behind me..it was Bo. He seemed in a better mood than yesterday probably because he managed to embarrass the hell out of me.
"He asked if you liked eggs… Vince make me one while you're at it." Vincent was still staring at me waiting on my answer and I flushed again.
"Yes." I mumbled.
Bo sat awkwardly across from me. Well it was awkward for me I felt like he was gloating. I can't get friendly with them they killed James! Wait what if they didn't kill james? What if he was alive in the house of wax up the street? I could find him get to him save him and we could get out of here… I didn't want to get my hopes up to much. I looked up and saw Bo staring at me intently I raised and eyebrow I couldn't help it. It didn't matter that I was here sitting in the kitchen with two killers my attitude tended to rise whenever it wanted.
"What?" I snapped. Haven't you done enough to me already? You have to make me feel like shit too?. Bo looked surprised at my outburst.
"Watch your mouth," he said between swigs of a beer bottle. Drinking in the morning? I never liked those kinds of guys reminded me of my mothers husband. "Or I'll cut out your tongue." he smiled and I shivered half expecting him to keep his word. Vincent slammed Bo's plate in front of him and glared at him from behind the mask.
"Calm down, Vince I was only kidding." he wolfed down his eggs and I was relieved when he got up and put the plate in the sink.
"I've gotta get going if I want to make to town for food." he announced and strolled to the kitchen doorway but not before lightly pulling a lock of my hair behind Vincent's back. He mimed cutting off my tongue and left slamming the front door behind him. I felt a little queasy after that as Vincent set my plate in front of me and I just stared at it for a minute. I realized he was watching me and I flushed.
"Do you want something else?" he asked softly.
"No, this is great." I mumbled and ate the scrambled eggs quickly.
I stepped out the shower and felt like I could take on the world. It was great to be clean but I was surprised they even had shampoo and soap. It was for men but it was something for right now. My bag was still in James' trunk in the clearing. It had all my clothes and feminine products in it. Maybe Vincent would let me get it. I changed quickly and combed through my long hair. I opened the bathroom door to let the steam out and went into the living room where Vincent was sitting on the couch staring at the black and white screen.
"I need my stuff." I announce my presence.
